Rumors abound this week of secret negotiations, backdoor meetings and veiled threats aimed at halting Rep. Issa’s investigation of the Fast and Furious scandal. Regretfully, such rumors are all too credible given Speaker Boehner’s history of always seeking a compromise even when victory is in sight.

This is what passes for pragmatism in Republican leadership circles: They settle for crumbs from the table instead of the “half a loaf” of successful compromise.